From Adversity to Achievement: IAS Suraj Tiwari's Inspirational Journey to UPSC Success

February 10, 2024

3 Minutes

Introduction

“उठो, जागो और तब तक नहीं रुको जब तक लक्ष्य ना प्राप्त हो जाए।”

As Suraj Tiwari quotes these famous lines by Swami Vivekananda, he talks about the statue of Vivekananda on the campus of JNU and how much it inspires him. He secured a 917 rank in the UPSC CSE 2022 examination. He hails from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, and his father does the work of tailoring. His journey is a testimony to his determination to achieve something in his life despite facing a major train accident and losing almost all of his limbs.

Initial Days of His Life

Suraj Tiwari did his schooling until the 8th grade in his village, Korawali. Later on, he pursued his school studies in the district of Mainpuri only. He once failed in 12th grade from the CBSE board, and then he passed it from the UP board. In 2015, Suraj went to Mumbai, where his brother was working, but had to come back because of financial reasons. In 2016, he went to Delhi and worked there in Noida for a year as well.

Train Accident

On January 29, 2017, Suraj met with a major train accident, which changed his life completely. His leg slipped, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in an ICU room. The doctors told him that he had lost two fingers on his left hand, his right hand, and both legs. His whole life was shattered. After some time, his mother entered the ICU room and saw his state; as a result, she fainted. Those days proved to be the toughest for Suraj.

Days at JNU

In April 2017, Suraj went to AIIMS to get medicines with his father, and he met a JNU student there. He showed Suraj the campus of JNU, and hope developed in Suraj. In May, he took the JNU entrance exam but failed. On May 25th, he also lost his elder brother. This was extremely tough for him, and he developed suicidal tendencies. However, he got to know that JNU is again conducting its entrance soon. He took the test again and got admission in the department of Russian.

Problems were like friends to Suraj since he had no money to pay fees. He needed 4000 rupees to pay the fees and asked for help from his friends, but most of them denied it. All of a sudden, a friend at JNU told him that a person was looking for a tuition teacher for some underprivileged students and would pay 4000 rupees per month. This was like a blessing in disguise for Suraj, and he took tuition classes and paid the money. In all this process, there was a constant urge in Suraj to do something in his life.

Urge, failed attempt, and COVID to finally UPSC

In his second year at JNU, Suraj started going to the college library. He talked to a lot of seniors there, and they suggested that he prepare for civil service. Suraj used to read the newspaper every day, and he even got a laptop from the library as well. He studied the whole NCERT syllabus on YouTube only. After his classes, he used to go to the library and prepare for UPSC. Then, COVID hit, and his father suggested that he should come back as his life was precious to them, so he went back home for some time. During COVID, his father's tailoring work was going through a rough patch, and the situation was very bad at his home. This motivated him more, and he gave it his first attempt. He couldn’t clear the prelims but didn’t lose hope. He learned from his mistakes, and in his second attempt, he cleared the examination. Either a train accident or financial reasons, nothing could stop Suraj from achieving his dream.

Conclusion

Suraj Tiwari's story is a powerful example of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of dreams against all odds. Coming from a humble background in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, and facing unimaginable challenges, including a catastrophic train accident that left him with severe injuries, Suraj's journey is nothing short of inspirational. His encounter with a JNU student and subsequent admission to the university marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, filled with hope and ambition. Despite financial struggles and personal tragedies, Suraj never gave up on his dream of serving his country through civil service. His hard work, dedication, and perseverance paid off when he secured a rank in the UPSC CSE 2022 examination. Suraj's story teaches us that no matter how difficult the journey may seem, with determination and support, achieving one's dreams is always possible.

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